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People discover a new type of spiders. These spiders catch and eat fish. The spiders live around rivers, lakes and ponds. They like warm weather. Many of them live in Florida.
Some spiders can swim. Some can walk on water. They are from two to six centimetres long. The spiders can catch fish which are bigger than them. After a spider catches a fish, it moves it to a dry place. Then it starts to eat it. The eating can take a few hours.
Source: newsinlevels.com
Short stories to read and discuss pdf level 1-level 2-level 3
Dictionary
1) Wonderful-adjective /ˈwʌn.də.fəl/-extremely good:
He’s a wonderful cook.
We had a wonderful time in Italy last summer.
It’s so wonderful being able to see the sea from my window.
She’s a wonderful cook.
He’s not much to look at, but he has a wonderful personality.
It’s a wonderful painting – I love the richness of the colors.
“How wonderful!” she said, without any trace of sarcasm.
2) Spider-noun /ˈspaɪ.dər/-
3) Discover-verb /dɪˈskʌv.ər/- to find information, a place, or an object, especially for the first time:
Who discovered America?
We searched all morning for the missing papers and finally discovered them in a drawer.
Scientists have discovered how to predict an earthquake.
She discovered (that) her husband was having an affair.
Following a routine check-up, Mrs. Mason was discovered to have heart disease.
The boss discovered him stealing money from the cash register.
4) Catch-verb /kætʃ/ to take hold of something, especially something that is moving through the air:
I managed to catch the glass before it hit the ground.
We saw the eagle swoop from the sky to catch its prey.
Our dog ran past me and out of the house before I could catch it.
We placed saucepans on the floor to catch (= collect) the drops of water coming through the roof.
Short stories to read and discuss pdf level 1-level 2-level 3
Short stories to read and discuss pdf level 1-level 2-level 3
5) Eat-verb /iːt/ to put or take food into the mouth, chew it (= crush it with the teeth), and swallow it:
Do you eat meat?
When I have a cold, I don’t feel like eating.
We usually eat at about seven o’clock.
6) Around-preposition, adverb /əˈraʊnd/ in a position or direction surrounding, or in a direction going along the edge of or from one part to another (of):
He put his arm around her.
A crowd had gathered around the scene of the accident.
She had a scarf around her neck.
The moon goes around the earth.
I walked around the side of the building.
As the bus left, she turned around (= so that she was facing in the opposite direction) and waved goodbye to us.
He put the wheel on the right/wrong way around (= facing the right/wrong way).
The children were dancing around the room.
I spent a year traveling around Africa and Asia.
The museum’s collection includes works of art from all around the world.
She passed a plate of cookies around (= from one person to another).
This virus has been going around (= from one person to another).
7) River-noun /ˈrɪv.ər/-
8) Lake-noun /leɪk/–
9) Pond-noun /pɒnd/-
10) Warm-adjective /wɔːm/- having or producing a comfortably high temperature, although not hot:
Are you warm enough or do you want me to put the heating on?
I put my hands in my pockets to keep them warm.
I don’t have a warm winter coat.
Those gloves look nice and warm.
Short stories to read and discuss pdf level 1-level 2-level 3
Short stories to read and discuss pdf level 1-level 2-level 3
11) Weather-noun /ˈweð.ər/ the conditions in the air above the earth such as wind, rain, or temperature, especially at a particular time over a particular area:
bad/good/cold/dry/hot/stormy/warm/wet/etc. weather
The weather in the mountains can change very quickly, so take appropriate clothing.
We’re going to have a picnic, weather permitting (= if the weather is good enough).
The weather is expected to remain clear for the next few days.
The game has been canceled due to adverse weather conditions.
Fair weather was forecast for the following day.
The weather was good at the start of the week.
12) Catch-verb /kætʃ/ to take hold of something, especially something that is moving through the air:
I managed to catch the glass before it hit the ground.
We saw the eagle swoop from the sky to catch its prey.
Our dog ran past me and out of the house before I could catch it.
13) Move-verb /muːv/- to (cause to) change position:
I’m so cold I can’t move my fingers.
Will you help me move this table to the back room?
Can we move (= change the time of) the meeting from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.?
Don’t move! Stay right where you are.
I thought I could hear someone moving around upstairs.
If you move along/over/up (= go farther to the side, back, or front) a little, Tess can sit next to me.
Short stories to read and discuss pdf
Police officers at the scene of the accident were asking people to move along/on (= to go to a different place).
Come on, it’s time we were moving (= time for us to leave).
Let’s stay here tonight, then move on (= continue our trip) tomorrow morning.
14) Dry-adjective /draɪ/- used to describe something that has no water or other liquid in, on, or around it:
I hung his wet pants on the radiator, but they’re not dry yet.
These plants grow well in dry soil/a dry climate.
This cake’s a little dry – I think I left it in the oven for too long.
15) Place-noun /pleɪs/an area, town, building, etc.:
Her backyard was a cool pleasant place to sit.
What was the name of that place we drove through on the way to New York?
They decided to go to a pizza place.
There are several places of interest to visit in the area.
It’s important to feel comfortable in your place of work.
16) Few-determiner, pronoun- /fjuː/ some, or a small number of something:
I need to get a few things in town.
There are a few slices of cake left over from the party.
We’ve been having a few problems with the new computer.
If you can’t fit all the bags in your car, I can take a few in mine.
“How many potatoes do you want?” “Oh, just a few, please.”
A wonderful spider-level 2
A wonderful spider-level 2
Scientists discovered spider species which catch and eat fish. These spiders live around shallow rivers, lakes and ponds. They like warmer areas. A lot of them were seen in North America, especially in Florida.
Some spiders can swim and even walk on water. They can catch and eat fish which are bigger and heavier than them. The spiders are usually from two to six centimetres long. After they catch a fish, they move it to a dry place. Then they start eating it. That can take several hours.
Next English short stories for Learning English
Dictionary
1) Scientist-noun /ˈsaɪən.tɪst/- an expert who studies or works in one of the sciences:
a team of scientists from the University of Miami
social scientists
a forensic scientist
A couple of decades ago scientists noticed Panama’s climate was slowly growing drier.
There are scientists who say that the results of the research are flawed.
2) Species-noun /ˈspiː.ʃiːz/-set of animals or plants in which the members have similar characteristics to each other and can breed with each other:
Mountain gorillas are an endangered species.
Over a hundred species of insect are found in this area.
figurative humorous Women film directors in Hollywood are a rare species.
3) Shallow-adjective /ˈʃæl.oʊ/-having only a short distance from the top to the bottom:
The stream was fairly shallow so we were able to walk across it.
She told her children to stay in the shallow end (of the swimming pool).
Fry the onions in a shallow pan.
These beech trees have shallow roots (= roots which do not go very deep into the ground).
4) Especially-adverb /ɪˈspeʃ.əl.i/- very much; more than usual or more than other people or things:
She’s not especially interested in sport.
I love Australian wines, especially the white wines.
5) Heavy-adjective /ˈhev.i/ weighing a lot, and needing effort to move or lift:
heavy equipment
How heavy is that box? (= How much does it weigh?)
This box is really heavy – can we put it down for a minute?
He laboured up the hill with his heavy load.
Several pieces of heavy equipment had to be manhandled into the lorry.
These books are too heavy for me to carry.
In the past, armies used catapults to hurl heavy stones at enemy fortifications.
6) Several-determiner, pronoun /ˈsev.ɚ.əl/ some; an amount that is not exact but is fewer than many:
I’ve seen “Gone with the Wind” several times.
Several people have complained about the plans.
Several of my friends are learning English.
As a racing driver, he was involved in many serious crashes and had cheated death on several occasions.
We carried the picture carefully through to the main exhibition, circumnavigating several obstacles en route.
It took several hours to clear the road after the accident.
The road clings to the coastline for several miles, then it turns inland.
She undertook several clandestine operations for the CIA.
A wonderful spider-level 3
A wonderful spider-level 3
Spiders that can catch and eat fish! Scientists have discovered a number of spider species that do just that!
More than 80 incidences of fish-eating semiaquatic spiders have been observed at the fringes of shallow freshwater streams, rivers, lakes and ponds.
Some are capable of swimming and, believe it or not, walking on the water’s surface.
Water spiders have been observed eating fish, as they generally have powerful neurotoxins and enzymes enabling them to kill and digest fish that are bigger and heavier than them.
The phenomenon appears to be more common in warmer areas, with fish captured by spiders usually ranging from two to six centimetres in length.
The fish is then dragged to a dry place before the feeding process can begin. Eating can last for several hours. Most incidents have been documented in North America, especially in the wetlands of Florida.
Short stories to read and discuss pdf level 1-level 2-level 3
Dictionary
1) Incidence-noun /ˈɪn.sɪ.dəns/- an event, or the rate at which something happens:
There have been quite a few incidences of bullying in the school this year.
an increased incidence of cancer near nuclear power stations
2) Observe-verb /əbˈzɜːv/- to watch carefully the way something happens or the way someone does something, especially in order to learn more about it:
The role of scientists is to observe and describe the world, not to try to control it.
He spent a year in the jungle, observing how deforestation is affecting local tribes.
Children learn by observing adults.
In Istanbul, East and West fuse together in a way that is fascinating to observe.
The satellite will observe objects that are particularly interesting astronomically.
Some scientists believe that there is about ten times as much matter in the universe as astronomers have observed.
The research project has been observing changes in the local population.
Security guards are able to observe the car park using CCTV.
3) Fringe-noun /frɪndʒ/ -the outer or less important part of an area, group, or activity:
the southern fringe of the city
the radical fringes of the party
He attended several of the fringe meetings at the conference.
4) Capable-adjective /ˈkeɪ.pə.bəl/- able to do things effectively and skillfully, and to achieve results:
She’s a very capable woman/worker/judge.
We need to get an assistant who’s capable and efficient.
5) Generally-adverb /ˈdʒen.ə r.əl.i/-considering the whole of someone or something, and not just a particular part of him, her, or it:
Your health is generally good, but you do have a few minor problems.
He wants more money to be given to the arts generally.
I shall now develop my previous point more generally (= to say more about what it includes).
6) Enabling-adjective /ɪˈneɪblɪŋ/ -making something possible or easier:
The government has lowered corporate tax to create an enabling business environment.
Short stories to read and discuss pdf
7) Surface-noun /ˈsɜː.fɪs/-the outer or top part or layer of something:
Tropical rain forests used to cover ten percent of the earth’s surface.
The marble has a smooth, shiny surface.
Neil Armstrong was the first person to set foot on the surface of the moon.
8) Incident-noun /ˈɪn.sɪ.dənt/-an event that is either unpleasant or unusual:
an isolated/serious/unfortunate incident
A youth was seriously injured in a shooting incident on Saturday night.
9) Wetlands-plural noun /ˈwet·lənd, -ˌlænd/) -an area of land that is naturally wet:
Thousands of acres of wetlands are destroyed every year by development.
Short stories to read and discuss pdf
Short stories to read and discuss pdf level 1-level 2-level 3